Safety-chest.



L. MYERS.

- SAFETY CHEST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, I907. 1 ,1 96,?39, Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET r. a J e KQ w n a N WWI wows: avweutm L. MYERS.

SAFETY CHEST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1907.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WMQ

Wibwemw L. MYERS.

SAFETY CHEST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1902.

1-, 1 96339.. Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

L. MYERS.

SAFETY-CHEST.

APPLICATION HLED MAR- 22,1907- 1 1 96,?3 9. Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

L. MYERS.

SAFETY CHEST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. \901.

1 1 95,?39. Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

"tlblllTlF; %TATE@ PATENT FFTQFA,

LOUIS MYERS, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

THE KEEPSAFE COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SAFETY-CHEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Au 29, 19116.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulLnprovements in Safety-Chests of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in safety chests or receptacles for containing jewelry or other valuables, and the object f my invention is to provide a burglar proof chest with an automatically operated burglar alarm with a view of preventing the theft of the chest and contents.

To this end my invention comprises a double walled containing chest or receptacle having means for spacing or separating the inner and outer walls, and an automatically actuated alarm suitably supported within said receptacle and controlled by means which are set into operation by the displacement of the chest.

In addition to the above named features, my invention also includes many features of construction for effectively and economically carrying out the purposes of my invention, and in order that the same may be fully understood, T will first describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, and afterward point out the novcity more particularly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of my improved safety chest or receptacle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top or cover of the safety chest removed from the main body of the chest and having parts broken away for the better illustration of the locking mechanism. Figure 3 is a plan view of the safety chest r receptacle with the top or cover removed and showing the alarm mechanism from above in the position it will assume in the chest or receptacle, the bell of 'the alarm being removed for the purpose of showing more clearly the interior mechanism. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4l4e of Fig. 3, this view being on a larger scale and omitting the parts of the top and body of the receptacle and showing only the alarm and controlling mechanism. Fig. 5

is a transverse sectional view of the cover taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation partly in section of the automatically operated alarm controlling mechanism. Figs. 7 and 8 are transverse sectional views of the main rotary hub actuated by the spring, showing particularly the mounting of the main gear upon the spring actuated hub. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the corrugated or zigzagged spacing strips which separate the inner and outer walls of the chest or receptacle.

The safety chest or receptacle in the form shown in the accompanying drawings consists of a main body portion and a removable top or cover portion, each of said portions comprising inner and outer walls separated by the corrugated or zigzagged spacing strips.

1 is the outer casing of the chest or receptacle consisting of the two sides, the two ends and the bottom, forming a rectangular box. This outer casing has openings at the ends indicated at 2, into which are titted the hollow sheet metal handles or grips 3. These handles 3 are preferably formed with upwardly projecting plates or flanges 3 which project through the openings 2 and rest against the inner face of the outer wall or casing 1, and are securely riveted theret in any suitable manner, not shown. This outer wall or casing l is preferably lined with sheet asbestos indicated at 5.

10 is the inner receptacle of rectangular shape and consisting of the two ends, the two sides and the bottom. The inner receptacle 10 is of smaller dimensions than the outer casing 1, and is spaced therefrom at its ends, sides and bottom, the inner receptacle being supported upon the corrugated or zigzagged spacing sheets or strips 15. These spacing strips 15 are arranged with channels running transversely and horizontally between the inner and outer bottom walls 1 and 10, while said strips are arranged with the channel running verti cally between the inner and outer end and side walls of casings 1 and 10.

The spacing strips 15 shown in detail in Fig. 9, are preferably formed with flattened portions 15 to provide substantial faces for the engagement of the inner and outer walls of the chest or receptacle.

20 is the outer shell and 25 the inner shell of the removable top or cover, the outer shell 20 being lined with sheet asbestos 21, as shown, and the two shells being separated by the corrugated or zigagged spacing strips 15 in the same manner as above described in connection with the main body of the chest or receptacle.

The end walls of the inner casing 10 have openings or perforations 30 adjacent to the opening 2 in the outer casing for the free outlet of sound waves. Both the inner and outer walls. 20 and 25, and the asbestos lining 21 of the cover section have similar openings or perforations 31 and 32 for the same purpose, and the spacing strips 15 adjacent to the openings 31 and 32 are also perforated at 33 so as to allow the free exit of the sound waves. As a further precaution against breaking into the chest, I provide a hood or cap plate 35 above the openings 32 in the cover, this hood or cap plate being securely riveted to the top of the box and spaced therefrom by posts 36, in the manner well understood in the art. A pivotal bail or handle 37 will be provided for the convenient handling of the chest.

' It will be observed from Fig. 1 of the drawings that I have shown the removable top or cover fitting exactly upon the bottom or main portion of the chest or receptacle.

The automatic burglar alarm which is supported within the chest or receptacle, is mounted upon. the inner face of the removable top or cover portion of the chest for the convenient manipulation of the same. Projecting inwardly from the double walled top or cover are four metal posts 50 which extend through both walls of the top or cover, and are securely riveted in place at their outer ends as shown in Fig. 1. Secured to the inner ends of the posts 50 by means of screws 51, is a main supporting plate 52. Supported by said plate 52 by means of posts 53 is an inner supporting plate 51 upon which the alarm and con trolling mechanism are mounted. This plate 52 carries four upwardly projecting posts upon which are supported an auxiliary plate 54 secured to the posts by screws 55 as shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 4;.

is the main rotatable hollow hub around which the main spring 61 is coiled. The inner end of the spring 61 is secured to the hub 60 by a screw 62, while the outer end 63 of the spring is secured to one of the posts 53. The hollow hub 60 is mounted at its upper and lower ends upon ball bearings 65 and 66 which are held in place by means of bearing collars 67 and 68 threaded respectively into suitable openings in the supporting plates 52 and 54-. These bearing collars 67 and 68 can be adjusted for properly regulating the ball bearing supports for the main rotating hub 60, and if preferred said bearing collars may be provided with lock nuts 69 as shown in Fig. 4:-

Any suitable means such as a removable crank handle 70 threaded or otherwise removably engaging the hub 60, may be provided for winding the spring 61.

The hub 60 has journaled upon it just above the spring 61 a main driving gear confined against longitudinal movement-on the hub by a set screw 76 engaging an annular channel'60 formed in the hub. The hub portion 75 of the gear 75 is cut out as shown at 75 for the reception of a pawl or dog 77 journaled at 78 upon the gear 75, and provided with a spring 79 which holds the pawl or dog 77 yieldingly into engagement with the ratchet teeth 60 cut into the reduced portion of the hub 60 within the hollow hub portion 75 of the gear 75. This dog 77 and ratchet teeth 60 constitute the winding ratchet of the mechanism. (See Figs. 7 and 8.)

The main driving gear 75 meshes with and drives a pinion secured to the lower end of a vertical shaft 86 journaled in the bracket 87 which is secured to the upper face of the plate 54. This shaft 86 has secured to it a gear wheel 88 which meshes with and drives a pinion 89 formed with an elongated. tubular hub 89 which snugly fits upon a rotatable shaft 90 and rotates therewith. The shaft 90 is freely journaled in the central tubular bearing of the hub 60, it being formed with an inner head 90 for confining it to a predetermined longitudinal movement in its bearing. Mounted upon the tubular hub extension 89 of the pinion 89 is an escapement wheel 95, a pin 96 passing through the hub portions of escapement wheel and hub extension 89 and the supporting shaft 90 to cause all of said parts to rotate in unison, and prevent downward displacement of shaft 90.

Arranged circumferentially around the escapement wheel 95, are a plurality of escapement levers 100, each one of which is formed with downwardly projecting escapement teeth 101 supported in operative relation to the teeth of the escapement wheel 95 in a manner well understood. These escapement levers are of curved shape, and are mounted upon the vertical shafts 102 which are suitably journaled above and below the escapement levers in ournal arms of a bracket 105 which is secured to the plate 51 by screws 106. These escapement shafts 102 carry the hammer arms which are provided at their outer ends with the ball hammers 111 supported adjacent to the striking rim of the alarm bell 115, which is centrally mounted by a screw 116 passing through the bracket 105 into the bell. It will be observed that the mounting of the bell places it above and around the escapement striking mechanism. Y

The alarm mechanism so far as described would ring continuously whenever the actuating spring 61 was wound, so that it is necessary to produce some restraining mechanism which I have deemed important to arrange under the control of an automatic releasing mechanism set into action by the displacement or removal of the chest or receptacle in which the alarm is mounted. I will now describe this restraining and controlling mech anlsm.

The escapement wheel 95 is provided on its under face with a series of ratchet teeth 125 which constitutes the controlling ratchet of the mechanism.

126 is a rock shaft extending approximately radially to the combined escapement and ratchet Wheel 95125, and carrying at its inner end a pawl or dog 127 which is supported in operative relation to the ratchet teeth 125, to engage said teeth and prevent the operation of the alarm mechanism. This shaft 126 is journaled in bracket arms 128 and 129, the first of which is secured to the upper face of the supporting plate 54, while the second of which projects from the yokeshaped bracket 130' (hereinafter referred to) which is secured to the main supporting plate 52. The rock shaft 126 carries at its outer end a rock arm 135 in the free end of which is mounted a crank pin 136 which engages in the oblique slot 137 formed in the arm 138 of the tripping plate 140 of releasing mechanism which will now be explained.

140 is a tripping plate journaled at 141 between the ears or lugs 142 secured to the upper face of the supporting plate 52. This tripping plate 140 has secured to it or formed integral with it, the upwardly projecting arm 138 above referred to. Supported beneath the plate 140 is a small expansion spring 143 confined upon a pin or screw 144 projecting slightly above the uppersurface of the supporting plate 52. The tendency of the spring 143 is to throw the plate 14.0 upwardly, which action causes the disengagement of the dog or pawl 127 from the ratchet 125 for releasing the alarm mechanism. This plate 140 is normally restrained against its automatic spring action by means of an equidescribed.

The rectangular bracket 130 above referred to is provided in its top cross bar with a; central openmg 145 formed with a spheroi-i dal seat in which rests a spherical head 14- 148 is partly cylindrical and partly conical in shape, its lower half being conical shape as shown. The rod 147 of the weighted pendulum projects slightly below the lower conical end of the weight 148 and is adapted to engage the upper plain surface 151 of a small conical block 152 mounted upon the upper face of the tripping plate 140, so that the upward thrust of the plate 140 under the action of spring 143 will be resisted by the en gagement of the rod 147, the weight 148 being suflicient to counteract the power of the spring 143. 7

It will be observed that by reason of the mounting and shape of the weighted pendulum 147, the tripping plate 140 will be locked against movement only when the weighted pendulum is balanced directly above the conical block 152 of the plate 140. It will also be observed that any slight displacement of the support for the weighted pendulum will cause it to swing to one side or the other with the result that the projecting end of the pendulum rod 147 will be automatically moved out of engagement with the plain face 151 of block 152 so as to release these parts and allow the spring 144 to move the plate 140 upwardly. This action results in the release of the alarm mechanism.

I prefer to provide the removable top or cover of my improved safety chest or receptacle with some suitable locking means which will not only securely lock the top or cover in place, but which will also control the automatic alarm under certain conditions. I will now proceed to describe one form of locking mechanism which may be employed for this purpose.

In Figs. 2 and 5, 175 represents the barrel of an ordinary Yale lock which is mounted in the top of the chest and projects througl'i both the outer and inner walls of the top. The rotatable member of this lock is arranged in some suitable manner (not shown) to rock a bar or bolt 176 ournaled in brackets 177 secured to and projecting from the inner wall of the top. This bar or bolt 176 has pin and slot connection adjacent to its ends with looking bolts 178 suitably supported on the inner face of the inner wall of the cover, and these locking bolts 178 are connected through levers 179 cu i'naled upon the cover at 180 with. similar locking Y bolts 181, the locking bolts 178 and 181 being poised controlling device which will now be movable longitudinally parallel with the inner wall of the cover and adapted to engage the keepers 182 properly secured to the in ner wall of the bottom portion of the chest or receptacle. By operating lock 175 the bolts 17 8 and 181 are simultaneously moved into locked or unlocked position.

An arm 185 projecting from the locking bolt 176 is adapted to engage the upper edge of an arm 138 formed integral with and regard to the position of the automatic locking pendulum. The arm 185 looks this tripping mechanism against action when the bolts 17 8 and 181 are in unlocked position so as to prevent the ringing of the alarm when the box is unlocked and the cover removed.

The operation of my improved safety chest or receptacle will be clear with but few words of explanation. The spring of the alarm mechanism having been wound while the cover is removed and the automatic release of the alarm is locked against action by reason of the unlocked position of the locking mechanism, the winding crank 7 0 is disengaged from the winding hub and the cover placed in position upon the box and the box placed on a proper support in hori- Zontal position, the locking mechanism is locked to secure the cover upon the box and to release the alarm mechanism to the control of the automatic releasing means. lVhen the box is in horizontal position the pendulum controlling device above explained will be in vertical position, and by its engagement with the tripping plate will retain said tripping plate in its inactive position, allowing the controlling pawl 127 to remain in engagement with the controlling ratchet 125 to maintain the alarm mechanism in said condition. If, after the box has been placed and arranged as described, someone should displace or move the box in the slightest degree, the equilibrium of the pendulum controlling device will be disturbed and the tripping plate 140 will be released so that its spring 144 will force it up wardly, causing it to rock the shaft 126 and disengage the controlling pawl 127 from the ratchet 125, which will free the escapement mechanism which immediately causes the sounding of the alarm by the rapid striking of the hammers against the bell. The equilibrium of the pendulum having once been disturbed, it is impossible to reset it because of the shape of the pendulum weight and the block upon the tripping plate, so that the alarm will continue to attract attention until some authorized person can unlock the box and arrest the mechanism by the action of the arm 185 upon the arm 138 of the tripping mechanism.

The chest or receptacle being a doubled walled construction in which the walls of the inner receptacle are separated from the outer casing and supported only at intervals, said inner walls will be rendered more resonant to intensify the sound of the alarm, the sound waves passing freely out through the perforations or openings in the inner and outer walls. Aside from the strength and resonant qualities of the chest or receptacle constructed as described, this structure is important for resisting fire.

The importance of my invention is due to the provision of a burglar proof and fireproof safety chest which, while not indestructible, is nevertheless sufiiciently strong to withstand a hurried breaking open of the chest so that before the contents of the chest can be rifled, the loud sounding alarm will have had ample opportunity to attract attention to the improper opening of the chest.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination of a chest or receptacle, and the following elements contained therein: an alarm, a pendulum, a member normally held inoperative by the pendulum and adapted to move automatically upon displacement thereof to prevent return of the pendulum to normal position, and means for operating the alarm rendered operative by the movement of said member.

2. The combination of a chest or receptacle, an automatic alarm supported therein, a pawl and ratchet mechanism normally restraining the alarm, a spring actuated tripping plate having operative connection with said pawl, and a suspended weighted arm hung above said tripping plate and normally restraining its action.

3. The combination of a chest or receptacle, an alarm within the chest or receptacle, means for operating the alarm, means normally restraining the alarm, a spring actuated tripping plate operatively connected with and adapted to release said restraining means, and a swinging arm carrying a weight having a cone-shaped lower end which engages said tripping plate.

4. The combination of a chest or receptacle, an alarm within the chest or receptacle, means for operating the alarm means normally restraining the alarm, a spring actuated tripping plate operatively connected with and adapted to release said restraining means, aconical block mounted upon said tripping plate, and a swinging arm carrying a weight having a cone-shaped lower end which engages the conical block of said tripping plate.

5. The combination of a chest or receptacle, an alarm within the chest or receptacle, means for operating the alarm, means normally restraining the alarm, a spring actuated tripping plate operatively connected with and adapted to release said restraining means, a conical bearing block having a small bearing surface mounted upon. said tripping plate, and a suspended swinging weight hung above said tripping plate and formed with a conical lower portion and relatively small engaging point which normally engages the bearing surface of said conical bearing block.

6. The combination of a chest or receptacle, with spring actuated alarm supported therein, means normally restraining said alarm including a dog or pawl, a rock-shaft upon which said dog or pawl is mounted, a pivoted tripping plate operatively connected with said rockshaft, a spring actuating said tripping plate, and a swinging weight hung above and normally engaging said tripping plate.

7. The combination of a chest or receptacle, with a spring actuated alarm supported therein, means normally restraining said alarm including a dog or pawl, a rock shaft upon which said dog or pawl is mounted, a rock arm projecting from said rock shaft, a pivoted tripping plate formed with an oblique slot in which said rock arm engages, a spring actuating said tripping plate, and a swinging weight hung above and normally engaging said tripping plate.

8. The combination of a chest or receptacle, an alarm supported therein, spring actuated escapement mechanism for actuating said alarm, a ratchet wheel connected with the escapement mechanism, a pawl normally engaging said ratchet wheel for restraining the alarm, automatic means for disengaging said pawl, a suitable locking device for the chest or receptacle and means operated by the unlocking of said device to lock the pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel and for securing the top or cover to the chest or L receptacle, an alarm mechanism mounted upon the top or cover and supported thereby within the chest or receptacle, automatically released means normally restraining the alarm, and means operated by the unlocking of said device to prevent the operation of said automatically released means.

10. In a box, an alarm, alarm operating mechanism, means for holding said mechanism from operation, two separate devices for maintaining said holding means in active relation with said alarm operating mechanism to prevent the alarm from operating, one of said devices being operable to release the holding means automatically when the box is moved and the other of said devices adapted to be set by hand to keep said holding means in-holding position even when released from said first named device.

LOUIS MYERS.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. KNIGHT, WM. A. COURTLAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

